Power transmission



May '13, 1924.

1,493,869 RUGGLES POWER TRANSMISSION Original Filed March 1919 2 Shee1.5-Sheet. l

ATTORNEY May 153, 1924 W. G. RUGGLES POWER TRANSMI SS ION Original FiledMarch 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet Z H b v 4 w QM N R 3 \X\ Q? QN m+ m. E Q q NHm NW 3 Q a m I? Y QM |,\II m Mb I r T mm 3 n w MN H Hm Patented May 13,1924.

iJNlTED fiTATES teases PATENT orrics. i

\VILLIAM GUY BUGS-LES, NEW YORK, N. Y.

rowan TRANSMISSION.

Application filed March 3, 1919, SerialNo. 280,237. Renewed April 28,1923.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM GUY Rocciins, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident oi? New York city, in the county of New York andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPower Transmission, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates in general to an improvement in powertransmissions of the type in which two separately controlled powermechanisms are operatively connected to a. single rotatable member so asto cause the member to assume a speed which. will be the algebraic sumof the speeds of the two power mechanisms. The present applicationconstitutes a continuation of and an improven'ient in the powermechanism disclosed in application for orientators, filed September 9,1918, Serial No. 253,216.

In the application above identified, and also in my previously tiledapplication, Serial No. 162,589, filed February 16, 1917, there isdisclosed as part of the completed aviator training machine thereinshown, a gin'ibal ring constrliiction, the innermost ring of which isprovided with a chair for supporting a person in position for universalarticulation about a relatively fixed point of reference. There is alsodisclosed a set of electric motor drives, one for each of the rings andthe several motors are controlled from two control stations, one stationbeing disposed so as to be operated by the person in the machine and theother set positioned at an instructors control station spaced from themachine. In the latter of these filed applications the electricconnections are so disposed that both the instructor and the st admit inthe machine can actuate anyof the motors and thus control the rotationof any of the rings at will. The previous disclosure also includes amotor control for each of the rings. which control is designed to beopcrat'i'vely responsive to the will of both the student in the machineand the operator at the instructoi"s station, as indicated by thesuccessive or sin'iultaneous actuation of their respective control. orany ot the motors.

The primary object of this arrangement is to permit the instructor tocause a movement ot the seat inany desired directionso as to impose onthe seat the same movement as will be imposed thereon by a gust of windor other disturbing factor which habitually imposes a change of positionon an aeroplane whilein flight. The student is enabled by actuating theproper control switch to counteract the disturbing influence of theaction caused by the instructor and by exerting his will through theproper actuation of the con trol, the student. is enabled to correct thedisturbing influence and rectify his position. Broadly thisobject isattained both in the form constituting the subject-matter of thisdisclosure andcin the form disclosed in the prior application, SerialNo. 285,216 by flexibly connecting two reversible electric motors toeach ring and so arranging the same that the simultaneous actuation ofthe two motors will impose upon the ring a speed which will bethealgebraicsum of the speed of the two motors. With such a connectionthe speeds are added when the motors are rotating in that directionwhich will cause the ring to turn in that direction and the resultingspeed of the ring is the difference between the two speeds of the motorwhen the motors are running in opposite directions. v i

The primary object of the invention constituting the subject-matter ofthis disclosure is to provide a simple, compact, flexible type of drivebetween each of the electric motors with their co-related motor supportsor mechanism containing housings," and the driving and 1ournall1ng shaftcommon to both power mechanisms.

Still another ob ect of the invention incidental to the desideratum forsimplicity of construction is to provide, in a device of the classdescribed, an organization of parts which can be secured and maintainedpositively in preset driving position, and which canbe readilydismounted "for repair or substitution of parts. i

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in partobvious from an inspection oi the accompanying drawings and in partwill. be more fully set forth in the following particular description ofone form of. mechanism embodying my invention, and the invention alsoconsists in certain new and novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter set torth and claimed.

Referring to the ings Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation of oneof the power mechanisms fixed to one accompanying drawof the sets ofrings disclosed in the preceding applications and partly in sectiontaken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a View partly in end elevation and partly in section axiallyof the supporting shaft of the two mechanisms and taken on the line 22of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2.

In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identifiedby specific names for convenience of expression but they are intended tobe as generic in their ap plication to similar parts as the art willpermit.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown two sets of supports 10 and11 which are any two pairs of the gimbal ring disclosed in the two priorapplications. As the construction is obviously adapted for use in otherlocations than in connection with the gimbal ring construction featuredin the prior application, the rings will be identified'in thisapplication indifferently as supporting or supported members.

In the present disclosure and for the purpose of simplifying thedescription, it will be considered that the ring 10 acts to constitute asingle supporting member and that the ring 11 similarly acts toconstitute a single supporting member mounted for rotary movementrelative to the supporting member about the axis of a centrally disposedshaft 12 loosely mounted in both members.

The supported member 11 is controlled by a pair of reversible electricmotors 13 and 14 operatively connected to the supported member throughthe mechanism, hereinafter described, so as to turn the member in eitherdirection and over any desired angle of movement up to 360, or beyond,as desired. The motors are mounted, respectively, in housings 15 and 16positioned at opposite ends of the shaft 12. It is understood that thedetail description of one of the housings and its contained parts, asshown in section to the right of Figure 2, is the same as that shown tothe left of this figure, except for the obvious reversing positions. Theright side of the mechanism is illustrated in detail but it will beunderstood that in the following description the parts referred to atthe right of the shaft are duplicated and symmetrically disposed to theleft of the shaft.

The housings 15 (or 16) is rotatably mounted on the shaft 12 by means oftwo spaced apart anti-friction roller bearings 17 and 18; theanti-friction bearing 17 being positioned inline with the supportedmember 11 and the anti friction bearing 18 constituting an out-bearingfor the adjacent end of the shaft. The end Qutbearing is positioned inthe hub of a wheel shape bearcling the shaft and bolted th the wall 2O.

1 his end of the casing is shaped on opposite sides of the shaft toprovide seats 23 for the ring shaped members 11 (or 10) which are heldin place hy-a face plate fastened by bolts 25.

A planetary gear train is mounted within the housing adjacent the wall20. This train includes an intermediate gear carrying spider 25 splinedto the shaft 12 and bearing upon the anti-friction bearings 17 to holdthe same in set position against the plate 22. A packing ring 26surrounds the reduced hub 27 of the spider and is in turn held in placeby a metal bearing ring 28. The packing and bearing rings constituting ameans at one end of the casing for preventing the l alrage oflubrication from the mechanism containing portion 29 of the casing alongthe shaft 12. An end plate 29 closes the outer end of the casing andencloses the mechanism in a bath of lubrication. Removal of this endplate permits access to the mechanism without the necessity fordemounting any of the said mechanism.

The planetary gear train includes an end gear 30 in the form of aninternal gear fixed to the inner side of the housing so as to turntherewith. A relatively long center gear pinion 31 constitu es the otherend member of the gear train and is loosely mounted on the shaft 12. Theportion of the shaft between the part carrying the pinion and the splineportion is threaded and provided with a nut 32 which bears' against ashoulder 33 defining the inner end of the spider hub. in this way thespider is fixed in position longitudinally of the shaft, thus insuringthe maintaining of the intermediate gears 34C in their set meshingengagement as hereinafter described. Further this nut lockingarrangement not only places the gasket 26 under preset pressure but alsoacts to secure the bearings 17 in their initially set position.Considering it in another aspect, the nut 32 prevents the shaft frommoving to the left and cone spondingly the similar nut in the housing 15prevents the shaft from. moving in the opposite direction. The floatingspider is provided with three circumfercntially spaced apart andlongitudinally extending stub shafts upon each of which is mounted oneof the intermediate gears 341- as shown in outlines in F re 3. Each ofthese gears constitutes an intermediate gear of the train and meshesrespectively withv the center pinion 31 and with the internal gear 30.By this construction it is apparent that with the spider stationary orrelatively stationary the rotation of the pinion will rotate the 30,through the gears 34, and with the pinion stationary. the revolving ofthe spider will likewise rotate the gear 30. The motor 14, as shown inFigure 1, is mounted on an extension 37 from the housing 16 so as topermit the ready dismounting of the same for repairs and substitution ofparts.

A worm shaft 38 has one end mounted in an end thrust bearing 39 held inplace by an end cap 40. The opposite end of the shaft is slotted, asshown at 41, and is keyed to the outer end of the armature shaft 42, soas to permit the ready withdrawal of the worm shaft independent of thearmature shaft when the end thrust bearing is demounted from the casing.The worm shaft is provided centrally thereof with a high pitch worm 43in'mesh with the periphery of a gear wheel 44 loosely mounted upon areduced end portion 45 of the shaft. This mounting is provided by meansof roller bearings 46 held in set position on the shaft against ashoulder 47 defining the inner end of the reduced portion 45. An end nut48 which is threaded to the end of the shaft bears against theout-bearing 18 and therethrough against an intermediate filler ring 49and, the bearing 46 to insure the maintenance of the preset drivingconnection between the worm 43 and the gear wheel 44.

The gear wheel 44 constitutes one element spring 53 acting throughthehead to hold,

the plates in frictional engagement with their cooperating andrelatively small diametered clutch plates 54. The clutch plates 54 arepositioned between the plates 50, and except for the frictionalresistance usual in such constructions, are free under l'iigh torsionalaction of the parts to move relative to the plates 50. The plates 54 areeach provided with acentral opening serrated and meshing with thecentral gear pinion 31 in offset relation to the portion of the pinionin mesh with the threeintermediate gears 34. I

It is understood that normally there is no slippage between the two setsof plates constituting the clutch and there is formed in effect. a rigiddriving connection between the gear and the pinion 31. The clutch isintroduced simply, as a safety device in case the motor is attempting toturn the casing and its supported member against an abnormal resistanceto its rotary movement.

Inoperation, and assuming first that the shaft 12 is lockedagainstrotary movement with reference to the supporting member 10 andassuming that the circuit is closed through the motor 14 to actuate thesame and thus turn theworm gear 43 in one or the other of its rotarydirections'the shaft 12 is caused to turn. Such a movement of thearmature shaft will act through the gear 44 and its attached clutch toevolve the central gear pinion 31 about the shaft. The turning of thepinion will act through the intermediate gears ,to rotate the same astheir supporting shafts are held in place, due to the fact thatthe shaft12 is held against rotation. Motion is thus transmitted to the internalgear 30, revolving the same and thus turning the housing 16 and itssupported member 11 bodily about the axis of the shaft 12. Therefore, bycausing the mo tor 14 to function, the supported member 11 will becaused to revolve at a speed dependent upon the speed of the motor. andupon the ratio of speed reduction by the gear train. In thus revolving,the supported member 11 will, of course, carry with it the housing 16and the motor 14 and will re.- volve the same bodily about the axis ofthe shaft 12. p

Again let it be assumed that the motor 14 is inactive and that throughthe actuation of the motor 13 the shaft 12 is caused to revolve. Thiswill obviously takeplace for the motor 13 is fixed in space due to theassumption that the supporting member 10 is fixed in place. Asthe motor13 cannot turn the housing 15 it reacts on the shaft to turn the same.Considering the casing 1.6 it will be noted that as the high pitch ofthe worm '43 prevents the gear 44 from turning the worm wheel, the gear44 will thus be locked in position against rotation fibOlltftllQ shaft.Thus the clutch and the pinion 31 will be locked against rotary movementabout the shaft 12. The turning of the shaft, however acts through thespider to revolve the same about the fixed central pinion 31 and actsthrough the intermediate gears to revolve the same and thus rotate gear30, the casing 16 and itssupported member 11. In this way it is seenthat each motor can contribute to the rotation of the housing 16 and itsattached supported member 11. In other words either motor can rotate thesupported member in either of its rotary directions. Not only will thisaction take place when only one 'of the motors is active but it willlikewise take place when both of the motorsare active. If the armatureshafts of both of the motors are rotating in a direction to cause thesupported member to move in the same direction then the speed of rotathe other is tending to move the supported member in the reversedirection, then the resulting speed of the supported member will be thedifference in speed between the speed of the two motors. In other words,the supported members will have a speed equal to the algebraic sum ofthe speeds of the two motors.

It is possible by means of a device of this character to provide twosets of controls, ring or other member, each operatively connected togovern one of the motors and so arranged that a person at one of thecontrol stations can move the supported member into any desired angularposition and the person at the other control station can reset thesupported member into the previous or into any other desired position.Further, it is possible for both operators to each individually imposehis will upon the resulting position of movement of the supportedmember.

lVhile I have shown and described, and have pointed out in the annexedclaims, certain novel features of my invention, it will be understoodthat various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and deailsof the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a devic of the class described, the combination of a support, ashaft rotatably mounted in said support, a power mechanism carried bysaid support and operatively connected to said shaft to rotate the same,a member mounted for rotary movement relative to said support, a secondpower mechanism carried by said rotary member and provided with a highpitch driven worm and a gear meshing with said worm and operativelyconnected to said shaft to rotate the member relative to said rotatableshaft.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support, ashaft rotatably mounted in said support, a power mechanism carried bysaid support, a driving connection between the power mechanism and saidshaft to rotate the same, a member mounted for rotary movement relativeto said support, a second power mechanism carried by said rotary member,a second driving connection between said second power mechanism and saidshaft, said connection including power transmission means operable bythe power mechanism and interposing a resistance to rotation thereof bythe shaft, both of said driving connections including slip clutches forpermitting movement of the shaft independent of both of said powermechanisms.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a shaft of asupport rotatably mounted on said shaft, a member mounted for rotarymovement relative to said support, and about said shaft, a pair of powermechanisms, one carried by the support and the other by the member and adriving connection between each of said power mechanisms and said shaft,whereby the member is free to have a movement which will be thealgebraic sum of the movements imposed thereon by the several powermechanisms, said connections each including means for transmitting powertherethrough in one direction and resisting the transmission in th otherdirection.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support ashaft carried by thesupport, a member mounted on said shaft for rotarymovement relative to said support, a rotary power mechanism carried bysaid member to rotate the same, a planetary gear train carried by theshaft and constituting a driving connection between said power mechanismand said member, and a second reversible power mechanism carried by thesupport and operatively connected to one of the gears of said train toassist or retard the movement of said member.

5. In a device of the class described, a supported member mounted forrotary move- .ment about an axis, and power means for rotating themember, said means including a supporting member, a main shaft disposedconcentric with said axis and loosely journalled in said supportingmember, a gear loose on said shaft, a power shaft carried by saidsupporting member, a driving slip clutch between said power shaft andsaid gear, a planetary gear connection between said gear and said shaft,said supported member mounted loose on said shaft and a gear connectionbetween said shaft and said supported member whereby the supportedmember may be rotated from said power shaft.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, amember supported by and mounted for rotary movement about said shaft,two reversible power mechanisms, one revolubly mounted on the rotarymember and each operatively connected to said member to rotate the samein either direction, a flexible driving connection between each of saidmechanisms andsaid shaft for causing the speed of one of the mechanismsto be added to and subtracted from the speed of the other mechanismswhereby the resulting speed of the member will be the algebraic sum ofthe speeds of the two mechanisms and anti-friction bear- 7. In a deviceof the class described, the

combination of a support, a shaft mounted for rotary movement in saidsupport, a pair of reversible power mechanisms, one carried by saidsupport and the other rotatably mounted on said shaft fixed relativethereto and each mechanism being operatively connected to said shaft torotate the same in either direction.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main shaft,two power mechanisms for independently and collectively driving saidshaft in either direction, gear connections between each mechanism andthe shaft, one of said power mechanisms mounted on the shaft androtatable relative thereto, said mechanisms, each including a worm driveof high pitch whereby the mechanisms can drive the shaft but the shaftcannot drive the mechanisms.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main shaft,two power mechanisms for independently and collectively driving saidshaft in either direction, gear connections between each mechanism andthe shaft, said mechanisms each including a worm drive of high pitchwhereby the mechanisms can drive the shaft but the shaft cannot drivethe mechanisms and each gear connection including a gear of relativelylarge diameter meshing with said worm drive and a slip clutch driveincluding plates fixed to said large gear, said slip clutch drivenormally constituting a rigid driving connection and permitting slippageonly under abnormal torque conditions.

10. In a device of the class described, a main shaft, an anti-frictiondevice mounted on said shaft, a mechanism containing housing mounted onsaid anti-friction device, a planetary gear set including a spidersplined to said shaft and engaging said anti-friction device to hold thesame in place, locking means for securing the spider in place, a powershaft carried by the housing and operatively connected to said planetarygear set.

11. In a device of the class described, a main shaft, an anti-frictiondevice mounted on said shaft, a mechanism containing housing mounted onsaid anti-friction device, a planetary gear set including a spidersplined to said shaft and engaging said anti-friction device to hold thesame in place, a power shaft carried by the housing and operativelyconnected to said planetary gear set andan out-bearing for the end ofthe. main shaft carried by the housing and tending to maintain thedriving connection between the power shaft and the main shaft fixed inposition.

12. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a main shaft, a mechanism pinion.

containing housing loose on said shaft and free to turn about the sameat all times, a gear train for effecting relative movement between thehousing and shaft and including an internal gear defining one end of thetrain and fixed to said housing, a center gear pinion defining the otherend of the train and loose on said shaft, an interi'nediate gear havingits axis of rotation fixed toand revoluble with the shaft, a power shaftjournalled in the housing and a driving gear connection within thehousing for driving the center ear pinion from the power shaft to rotatethe same.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main shaft,a mechanism containing housing loose on said shaft, :1. gear trainincluding an internal gear defining one end of the train and fiXedtosaid housing, a center gear pinion defining the other end of the trainand .loose on said shaft, a power shaft journalled in the housing, atwo-part clutch with one of the parts supportedloose'on the main shaftand in driving connection with the power shaft and the other part indriving connection with the 14. In a mechanism containing housing, a mamshaft vjournalled therein at two spaced apart including a planetary geartrain connected to the shaft with one element thereof loosely mounted onthe shaft and another element in driving engagement with the housing, aclutch element carried by the shaft and operatively connected to thegear train, a power means for driving said clutch element.

15. In a device of the class described, the. combination of a main shafthaving a reduced outer end forming a shoulder, a housing enclosing theend of the main shaft, a power shaft mounted for rotary movement in saidhousing, an end bearing for supporting the shaft in the housing forsecuring the axis of the power shaft inset relation to the axis of themain shaft, a

clutch element including a worm gear con nection with the power shaft,an anti-friction bearing for the clutch element, said bearing mounted onthe shaft between the shoulder and the end bearing and means forsecuring the clutch, anti-friction bearing and the shaft end hearings inset position filling said reducedouter end of the main shaft anddriving, means connecting the clutch element with the main shaft.

, 16. In a device of the class described, the-combination with a mainshaft and a housing mounted for relative rotary movement about the axisof the shaft, of a power shaft mounted for rotary movement in saidhousing and extending into the sameat right device of the classdescribed, a i

.rotary movement about the axis of the main shaft, of a power shaftjournalled in said support, a planetary gear train with the last elementthereof fitted to the support and the first element thereof loose on theshaft and operatively connected to the power shaft to be driven therebyand intermediate elements thereof carried by the main shaft with theiraxis of rotation fixed relative to the shaft, said intermediate elementconstantly meshing with both the first and last elements of the geartrain.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainshaft and a power shaft support mounted for relative rotary movementabout the axis of the main shaft, of a power shaft journalled in saidsupport, a planetary gear train with the last element thereof fixed tothe support, a driving clutch having one member geared to the powershaft and the other element geared to the first element of the geartrain, and intermediate elements thereof carried by the main shaft andmeshing with both the first and last elements of the gear train.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination. of a main shaftprovided in order with a housing anti-friction hearing, a planetary gearspider splined thereon, nut for securing the spider in place, a looselymounted pinion, a clutch antifriction bearing, a second housinganti-friction bearing and nut for securing said second anti-frictionbearing in place, a housing carried by said two housing anti-fric tionbearings, an internal gear carried by said housing, an intermediate gearmeshing with said internal gear and with said pinion to form a ar train,a clutch mounted on said clutch anti-friction bearing and engaging saidpinion and power means for drivingv said clutch,

20. in a device of the class described, the combination of a main shaftprovided in order with a housing anti-friction bearing, a planetary gearspider splined thereon, a nut for securing the spider in place, aloosely mounted pinion, a clutch anti-frio tion bearing, a secondhousing anti-friction bearing and a nut for securing said secondanti-friction bearing in place, a housing carried by said two housinganti-friction bearings, an internal gear carried by said housing, anintermediate gear meshing with housing, a head for closing an endthereof,

a main shaft mounted for rotary movement in said housing and having oneend extending into said housing and terminating therein adjacent saidhead, an end bearing for said end of the shaft, a gasket between theshaft and the housing at the end thereof receiving the shaft, drivingmechanism contained in said housing between the end hearing and saidgasket, said mechanism including a power shaft, a gear train having itsfirst element operatively connected to be driven by the power shaft, itslast element fixed to said housing to revolve the same and anintermediate element carried by said shaft.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination of a lubricationcontaining housing, a head for closingan end thereof.

a main shaft mounted for rotary movement in said housing and having oneend extendin into said housing and terminating therein adjacent saidhead, an end bearing for said end of the shaft, a gasket between theshaft and the housing at the end thereof receiving the shaft, drivingmechanism con tained in said housing between the end bearing and saidgasket, said mechanism includ ing a power shaft, a slip clutch havingone element thereof geared to said power shaft, :1 gear train having itsfirst element geared to the other element of the slip clutch, the lastelement of the gear train fixed to said housing to revolve the same andan intermedite element of said gear train carried by said shaft.

23. In a device of the class described, the combination of two supports,a motor mounted on each support, a main shaft loosely mounted in bothsupports, a planetary gear train for each motor, each of said geartrains including an end gear fixed to its corelated support to turn thesame relative to the shaft, the other end gear operatively connected toits corelated motor to be driven thereby and a spider fixed to the shaftto revolve therewith and having an intermediate gear journalled in saidspider and meshing with the first and last gears of the gear train. v

24. In a device of the class described, the

combination of two supports, a main shaft by the motor can drive throughthe connecloosely mounted in both supports, an election but theconnection is locked against 10 tric motor mounted on each support, adrivmoving the armature shaft.

ing connection between each motor, its sup- Signed at New York city, inthe county port and the shaft, each o1 said driving conof New York andState of New York, this nections including a reducing gear train 28thday of February, A. D. 1919.

having a worm gear engagement With the "rmature shaft of its oorelatedmotor where- WVILLIAM GUY RUGGLES.

